Western African Submitted Surnames

Western African names include those from Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo. See also about African names.
usage
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Oderasak Yoruba (Rare)
It is Yoruba mispronunciation of the the name Oscar. It was a middle name that became a last name.
Odoemene Nigerian
Odoemene roots from Nigeria. It has branched onward to America, and multiple other countries. It literally means 'yellow reluctance' in Igbo.
Ogyampah Akan
Meaning unknown.
Okoturo Nigerian
A surname most popular in Nigeria; meaning currently unknown.
Olatunji Yoruba
"Olatunji" is a Yoruba surname and a given name meaning "Wealth awakes again".
Onyilogwu Nigerian (Rare), Igbo (Rare)
Possibly means "he who is invulnerable to dark magic" in Igbo.
Orelias Nigerian (Latinized, Modern, Rare), Italian (Tuscan), Venetian
Means "golden", when coupled with a first name becomes "the golden". Varied from Orelia, "golden".... [more]
Osei Western African
Very popular surname in Ghana.
Osy Nigerian
From Imo, Nigeria
Ouattara Western African, Manding
From the name of the Wattara or Watara clan of the Dyula people, believed to be derived from a word meaning "prince".
Oubeid Western African
Mauritanian variant of Obeid (see Ubayd).
Oumarou Western African
From the given name Oumarou.
Ousman Western African
From the given name Ousman.
Ousmane Western African
From the given name Ousmane.
Owo Nigerian
From the given name Owo.
Owusu Western African, Akan
Means "strong-willed, determined" in Akan.
Ọyáwálé Yoruba, Nigerian
Means "the river goddess came home" in Yoruba.
Oyekan Yoruba
Means "the next to be crowned" in Yoruba.
Oyiakwan Akan
Meaning unknown.
Oyinvwi Urhobo
A name from the history of the urhobo culture. It's been noted that the name indicate strength and is the name attached to it. The important vice of the tradition. Leads trivial matters in hope for liberty.
Penda Wolof
Penda stems from the Swahili “kupenda” = to love/like/be pleasant. Notable bearer was Fara Penda, a Waalo noble of the Wolof people in West Africa. Waalo was a kingdom on the lower Senegal River in in what is now Senegal and Mauritania.
Popoola Yoruba
"The way of the rich man" or "The way of prosperity"
Quartey Western African, Ga
Ga surname of unknown meaning.
Sako Western African, Manding
From the name of a Soninke and Mandinka clan most likely derived from saaxo meaning "heron, egret".
Sakyi Akan
Meaning unknown.
Samoura Fula
Mauritanian Fula Surname, From the name {Sow}
Sankara Mossi (?), Fula (?)
The surname of the assassinated Burkinabé president Thomas Sankara (1949-1987).
Sanogo Mossi
Not available yet.
Sarpei Akan
Meaning unknown.
Sarr Western African, Serer
Meaning uncertain.
Sawadogo Mossi
Not available.
Selassie Ethiopian, Amharic, Western African
Possibly means "trinity" in Amharic. A notable bearer was Haile Selassie (1892-1975), the regent and emperor of Ethiopia from 1930 to 1974.
Shettima Kanuri, Nigerian
Meaning unknown.
Shitu Nigerian
Related to Shittu.
Siaw Akan
Meaning unknown.
Sika Akan
Meaning unknown.
Siriboe Akan
Meaning unknown.
Sirleaf Western African
Altered form of Sheriff (a predominantly Mandinka Muslim surname, itself a variant of Sharif).
Soueidi Western African
Mainly found in Mauritania.
Soueilem Western African
Meaning unknown—this surname is mainly found in Mauritania.
Sow Western African, Fula
Meaning uncertain.
Sullubawa Hausa
The Hausa transliteration of a noted Fulani Clan coming from the Bilād as-Sūdān region of West Africa.
Takyi Akan
Meaning unknown.
Tangara Western African, Manding
Malian Bambara surname of unknown meaning.
Tarawele Manding
The original variant of Traoré.
Tersoo Tiv
Means, "father's love". Has its history from Tiv origin. Its a common name amongst the Tiv people of Nigeria.
Touré Western African
Probably derived from tùùré meaning "elephant" in the Soninké language.
Traoré Western African, Manding
Francization of Manding Tarawele, which is of uncertain etymology. It was originally used by 13th-century Malian warrior Tiramakhan and possibly means "going to call it".
Tweneboa Akan
Meaning unknown.
Umburter Tiv
Means, "Remember the father". Father also used in the context of God.
Upamecano French (African), Manding (Gallicized)
A very rare French surname with African roots.
Uthman Nigerian
From the given name Uthman.
Uwem Ibibio, Efik, Anang
Meaning "Life". It originates from the Efik, Ibibio and Anang tribes of Cross River state, Nigeria which has now been divided with the Ibibios and Anang people in the newly formed Akwa Ibom state... [more]
Uzochukwu Igbo
Meaning "god's way".
Wiredu Akan
Meaning unknown.
Yacouba Western African
From the given name Yacouba.
Yahaya Western African, Comorian
From the given name Yahaya.
Yaya Western African
From the given name Yaya.
Youssouf Western African
From the given name Youssouf.
Zeidane Western African
Mauritanian variant of Zidane.
Zulum Kanuri, Nigerian
Derived from the Arabic Salim.